Exposure to Food Additives, Dietary Indicators, and Adiposity in Chilean Preschool Children
Authors' conclusion
Chilean preschoolers are highly exposed to food additives, with distinct consumption patterns linked to poorer diet quality and higher BMI. There is a need for monitoring and regulatory efforts to reduce unnecessary additive exposure during childhood.
Study context
- Population
- Chilean preschool children aged 4–6 years from the Food and Environment Chilean Cohort (2016)
- Participants
- 941 children
- Outcome
- Food additive exposure
- Follow-up
- Per day
Methodological detailsexploratory factor analysis, linear regression
- Exploratory factor analysis
- Linear regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Additives consumed per day (including repeated exposures), average
45.5
Different additives consumed per day, average
24.7
Children consuming flavourings
99%
Share of total additives from fruit and soft drinks (primary sources)
24.4%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Additive patterns and associations with dietary indicators and body mass index (BMI)
- Additive patterns identified
- 5
- Patterns associated with BMI
- 2
- All patterns associated with at least one dietary indicator
Original publication
Exposure to Food Additives, Dietary Indicators, and Adiposity in Chilean Preschool Children. Pediatr Obes. Published 10 March 2026. doi:10.
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